Director of Parks and Open Space

: Job Description Primary purpose: The Director of Parks and Open Space leads the City’s mission to provide quality active and passive recreation opportunities through thoughtful design and construction methods with a focus on diverse needs, abilities, and uses. The Director of Parks and Open Space will work with many stakeholder groups, government agencies, elected officials, and City employees to lead Newton’s open spaces into the future. Work will include capital projects, needs assessments, feasibility studies, master planning, and guiding the long and short-term direction for key components of the City’s green infrastructure. Works as a member of the senior leadership team of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Culture under the direction of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Culture. Essential Functions: (The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.) Essential Elements – Park & Open Space Planning Develops plans, policies, and procedures to support the best utilization of hundreds of acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department. Leads the Department’s efforts to create master plans for all recreation areas including, athletic fields, courts, tot lots, playgrounds, recreation facilities, aquatics facilities, trails, and passive recreation sites. This includes an open dialog with the public that encourages community engagement, accessibility, and inclusion. Directs and executes the creation of park and facility specific plans. This includes site specific masterplans, construction documents, and phased construction plans. Creates, develops, and updates Department policies and procedures as it directly relates to park improvements, volunteer efforts, and usage changes. Works to ensure the Department has standardized specifications, policies and guidelines for site amenities, construction methods, and materials. Works hand in hand with other City agencies and groups to provides peer review of projects that directly or indirectly impact land and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department. Assists the Department’s Grounds Maintenance and Beautification divisions in creating plans for their areas of oversite. Works closely with other City Departments, citizen-based groups, stakeholders, elected officials, and the public to build consensus on park and recreation facility improvements. Essential Elements – Project Management Develops and manages all assigned projects from the planning stage through design, cost estimating, scheduling, bidding and construction. Maintains a project database of all Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department projects. Maintain and coordinate project updates. Update project status on the City's web site. Oversees the programming and design of projects performed by in-house staff. Prepares and negotiates consultant contracts for design services. Prepares requests for qualifications & proposals for design services as required. Review’s qualifications and proposals and recommends selection and award of consultant contracts. Oversees design projects performed by design consultants. Monitors the consultant’s contract. Reviews payment requests. Monitors consultant's progress through contract closeout. Prepares presentations for various committees including Parks and Recreation Commission, CPA Committee, City Council, Conservation Commission, and outside groups. Most meetings are held in the evening after normal work hours. Oversees and provides construction cost estimating, and construction scheduling, during the preparation of construction bid documents. Oversees the procurement of construction contractors during the bidding and award phase of the project. Reviews contractor bids for completeness and reasonableness. Provides comprehensive construction management and oversight services including overseeing on-site resident representatives and construction inspectors during the construction phase of the project. Interfaces with all on site personnel. Monitors daily the contractor's adherence to approved plans and specifications. Records the progress of the construction project, reviews, and recommends approval of payment requisitions, and prepares written reports of the progress of construction. Oversees construction project completion, closeout, clean-up, as-built drawings. Responsible for managing and monitoring project budgets, ensuring adequate funds are available to complete assigned work and creates reports relative to funding and project budgets. Interfaces, communicates, and presents to the public routinely under variable situations. Essential Elements – Community Outreach Provide oversight and management of volunteers and volunteer opportunities throughout the City’s open spaces and parks. This will include park and open space adoption projects, community volunteers, and work provided by stakeholder groups. Direct and supervise assigned staff members, including the Assistant Director of Parks and Open Space (title TBD), in implementing all manners of community outreach and volunteerism. Conduct public outreach, meetings, and surveys to assess the public’s needs and wants as it relates to recreation opportunities and public open spaces. This includes reporting findings and working with other City agencies to build a cohesive plan for the City’s parks, open spaces, and green infrastructure. Attend community events and meetings related to parks and opens spaces to educate the public on the Department’s mission and to receive input from the public. Many of these events and meetings are held in the evening after normal work hours. Must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Secondary Elements Works with the other divisions of the Department to support their work by providing input and guidance. This includes Recreation and Culture programs, Grounds Maintenance, Community Beautification and Urban Forestry. Provides advice to other City agencies on the feasibility and cost of projects as it relates the green infrastructure and landscape elements. Assists the Community Beautification Division in creating ways to enhance our City squares, business districts, and other non-park gathering places. Performs other related duties as directed by the Commissioner. Minimum Entrance Qualifications: ((To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. We encourage all candidates who feel they are capable of successfully performing the responsibilities as outlined in this position description, regardless of the qualifications listed below to apply.) Education, Training and Experience: Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university with studies in landscape architecture, environmental studies, landscape design, park management, city planning or related field; plus, seven to nine years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Broad knowledge in landscape construction, landscape and civil design, project management, plant and landscape materials, cost estimating and bid document creation. Must have experience working with elected and appointed officials and community engagement. Massachusetts Class D driver's license is required. Designation as a Registered Landscape Architect is preferred. Knowledge, Ability and Skill: Language / Communication Skills Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, or regulatory agencies. Ability to write/document information that conforms to prescribed style and format. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, to all levels including clients, groups of clients, families, top management, outside agencies, public groups, or employees of the City. Additional language abilities in addition to English a plus. Reasoning Ability Ability to define problems and use judgement to work toward results, modify methods/techniques and make recommendations dealing with several abstract and concrete variables within clearly defined laws, precedents, and policies. Computer Skills Must be able to operate a personal computer and technical software, such as Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, and other industry specific programs. A strong commitment to public service required. Physical requirements/work environment (The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.) Work is performed under typical office conditions; the noise level is moderate at most times. Essential functions are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Must be able to work on a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking, flexibility, and extensive interpersonal interactions and occasionally climb or lift up to 20 pounds. Some evening and weekend work may be required. Operates computers, printers, facsimile machine, copier, calculator, telephone and standard office equipment. Has frequent contact with other City departments, current employees, and vendors/service providers. Has access to all department-level confidential information, which requires the application of appropriate judgment, discretion and professional office protocols. Errors in judgment or omissions could result in considerable confusion and delay, have a continuing adverse effect on the library’s ability to deliver services, be costly to correct and cause significant adverse public relations. Performance Standard Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics. (This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)